Iogomotivb-stokeu



H. LINDSAY.

LOCOMOTIVE STOKER.

APPLICATION mio ocr. 12, |911.

H. UNDSY.

Y LOCOMOHVE STUKER.

APPLICATIOH flLED DCT. I2, 19H.

Patented June 3, 1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H. LNDSY.

LOCOMOTWE STUKER.

' APPLICATIQN man ocT. I2, i917.

Om. 1 9- 13 ew my TdH d .l .ww D5 .mw nw Dl LMB H. LINDSAY.

` Locomoive Smm. APPLICATION FILED OCT. I2, IQI?.-

Lw Patented June 35,1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4. Y

H. LINDSAY.

Locomolve sToKER.

APLICATIUN FILED OCT. I2. 1917.

Patented June 3, 1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5- ,entran rer-rarer enteren.

OEOMTIVE-STGKER.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Application med october l2, 1917. Serial'o. id.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that HAMILToN LINDSAY, a citizen 'oi'f` the United States, residing at Willoughby, in the county ofLake and` State of GhiO, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Locomotive-Stokers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying' drawings.

This invention relates to a mechanism adapted vto feed coal automatically from a locomotive tender, into the fire box. The general object of this invention isto provide a mechanism for this purpose whichlshall be simple in construction, eiicient in peration and capable of convenient installation on existing types of locomotives and tenders.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide for feeding coal to the 'lire box substantially continuously in, small individual amounts and without opening tlie'iire box space to drafts of cold air. Another obgect is to cause even spreading of the coal over the fire in the most approved manner by feeding the coal into the iire box with a sudden throwing action, thus attaining a dis vtribution better than that secured by hand shoveling. Another object is to insure regularity in feeding oi' the desired 'quantity of coal from the tender to the devices throwing the coal inthe tire box and without diiiicuh ties resulting from clogging, loss oi coal and the like encountered in the usual mechanical stoker for locomotives, such as those heretofore tried.

Another object of the invention is to make the device compact, thus avoiding taking up undue space when installed, and so arranged as to allow mutual play of the locomotive and tender while traveling, as well as -permitting convenient uncoupling of them when desired. l Q

rlhe above and more sp`ec1c ob]ects will become apparent in the :following description which refers to the drawings. The es#- sential characteristics of' my invention are summarized in the claims.

in the drawings, Figure l vis a sectional side elevation ot my stoker showing the same attached to the locomotive vand tender, only the adjacent parts of which are illustrated in the drawing; Fig. 2 is a similar sectional side yelevation of the opposite side of the Stoker mechanism; iF ig. is a plan of the Stoker mechanism, the conveyor members at the right of the .figure being sectioned to show a construction of the feeding plungers; l is a vertical transverse section through the conveyers on the locomotive looking toward the locomotive and showing the mechanism for operating the throwing blades;

Fig. 5 is a, section similar to Fig. l showing the operatingY parts in other positions; Fig. 6 is a view of the'parts shown inFig looking in the opposite direction and illustrating them in the position assumed when the coal isthrown forwardly into the tire box; Fie. 2' vis a longitudinal sectional detailthrougli theoal throwing blade and surrounding parts; Fig. 8 is a detailof a'trigger operating arm-controlling the throwingvof the coal.

. In the drawings, Ai'ndicates alocom'otive cab; Bthe deck; Cvth'e" inclined end of the boiler, usually comprising spaced apart walls 'forming a water'legyzat the rear of the re box, and E the grateqy The rear of the boiler or water leg lmay be provided with a hand tiring opening tor use in starting the fire or in emergencies but'normally closed by a door F. When my device is used, two separated openings G are lprpvided in the end of the boiler and'which slope downwardly near thegrate as shown at G'.

y :Fitted around the openings G, are the forward ends roi: long box-like chutes'extending rearwardly and downwardly beneathy the deck B, of the locomotive. These chutes are indicated et l and 2 and preterablyare' made in the nature of cast metal'boxesythe side walls of which are enlarged adjacentthere box and secured thereto by angle brackets 3, each having one ange secured to the box side and the other secured to the boilerplate C. The chute preferably has its sidewalls and bottom integral, while being closed for a greater part of its length by a removable plate e, carrying an upturned hopper 5. W'ithin the housings l and 2, are plu'ngers, for conveying the coal 4`forwardly toward the fire box, and means for intermittently throwing a small portion of the coal through the opening G, as will be hereinafter described. The coalis brought from the tender'H, along box-likeconveyers 6 and securedA to the underside of the tender deck d, and extending forwardly therefrom over the hoppers 5. rthese boxes are also preferably constructed Eatented June 3, 3Std. I

ofcast metal and are 'partially closed at the v front ends by transverse wall 8 at the front end, leaving an opening over the hoppers 5.

Within each of the conveyor chutes l, 2, 6 and 7, are peculiarly shaped plungers arranged to advance the coal 'along the same and designed to avoid wedging and clogging thereof. The chutes arev machine finished on the interior and open at their rear ends while the front end communicates with the front openings G, whereby I amY enabledto fit a cast plunger in the boxes, the removable covers permitting easy assembling. rI"hese plungers comprise approximately U- shaped castings, each having a transverse portion 10, at their rear ends, and forwardly extending portions 11 offset at the forward ends as indicated at 12, and integral with the forwardly extending walls '13 which are in turn offset as indicated at 14, the portion 14 being integral with walls 15, which vare in turn offsetat 16 and integral with forwardly extending walls 17. These portions, 10 to 17 inclusive are vertical inner walls of the plunger and are integral with parallel web portions 18 machine finished on their lower and side surfaces to slidably fit the boxes 1 and 2.

The transverse wall 10 and the shoulders, 12, 14E, 16 and r13 form the surfaces which urge the coal forwardly and upwardly along the chutes when the plunger is reciprocated. The coal being admitted adjacent vto the wall 10 between the walls 11, as it finest particles of the coal from wedgin'g be-V tween t'he plunger and walls of the chute.

The hoppers 5, receiving the coal from the contracted ends of the chutes 6 and 7, bring .the coal to the reduced receiving space of the plunger between the walls 11. To prevent any of the coal in the hopper from catching between the upper portion of the wall 10 and the forward edge of the'hopper, I provide a hinged plaie 20, pivoted at 21 to the cover 4 and having its rear end rounded inwardly and downwardly so that a piece of coalvcoming between the -wall 10 of the plunger and the rounded portion of this plate at 22, may raise the plate suiiciently to prevent its wedging or breaking any of the parts. rIhe inward movement of the cover is limited by the inward movement of the plate Q0, while a weight 24 urges this plate downwardly so that recession of the plunger bringing a wider portion between its walls thereof below this plate 2O may allow the plate to press any lumps downwardly into the mass of coal in the chute. To prevent the coal from moving backwardly with the plunger, l may provide on this lplate hinged fingers 25, capable of swinging forwardly, but stopping in the rearward movement in the vertical position. Vlhus coal may freely pass these fingers on the forward movement but lodges against them on the return of the plunger.

The plungers in the chutes 6 and 7 are substantially the same construction-as those gust described, each having a rear transverse.

wall 30, forwardly extending walls 33, which in turn are odset to form shoulders 34 integral with walls 35, offset at their outer ends to form their shoulders 36, integral with parallelfextensions 37 and 3S. The members 37 are beveled at their forward ends to prevent lumps of coal from wedging between them and the transverse front walls S and also to act to force the coal transversely ofA locomotive conveyers and the tender conveyers, l can positively feed small amounts of coal and at the same time keep the mass of the coal in the chutes constantly loosened so that it willv not clog.

in the deck J, of the tender, are openings preferably.substantially twice the length of the movement of the plunger and on the plungers in the boxes G and 7 are upwardly projecting fingers 40 adapted to agitate'the coal in the tender immediately above these openings, thus causing it to flow freely through these openings and into the restricted portions of the plunger. ventlarge lumps from dropping into the plungers, i may use a transverse bar 41, rigidly secured in the plungers between the walls 31 and at the upper portion thereof, the openings at either side of the bar determining the size of coal fed' therethrough. T he upper webs 39 of these plungers extend rearwardly far enough to prevent coal dropping behind the plungers.

To avoid coal wedging between the walls and the forward edges of the openings 39, in the tender deck, I find it convenient to extend the horizontal webs of the plunger across the same between the walls 33 'as in dicated at 43; thus in the plungers, I leave an opening behind the rear edges of the horizontal webs 3, which are at the upper side of the plunger only. The'openings 39 are arranged with relation' to the plunger so that 'on the forward movement of the plunger the wall 33 passes just beyond the opening 39, leaving the opening in the plunger in full registration at allY times. The forward position of the plunger is indicated in Fig. 3 where this condition is illustrated in connection with the plunger for the chute 6.

To prestrut 117 attached at 118 to a bracket 111 is adapted to bear its lower end against a lug or roller 120 carried on the arm 107, thus holding this arm down with'the spring 112 compressed and the throwing blade or shovel 45 in its receiving position. At the same time the arm 95 is actuated by the Acam 92 and the connections with the flange stop 49 are so positioned that these stopsare lowered, allowing coal to pass across them and onto the throwing blades.

After a predetermined amount of coal has been deposited on the throwing blade by the forward movement of the plunger, the upward movement of the lever 90 actuates the rock shaft 55 to cause the cam 92 to swing the lever 95 upwardly, thus raising the stop flange 49 through the connections described. The actuation of the roclr shaft 100 in this movement causes the latch strut 117 to release the lever 107, allowing the spring to thrust its forward end upw ardly quickly, which, through the link and arm 106 and 105 respectively, causes the blades 45 to swing upwardly and forwardly sharply, thus throwing the coal forcibly through the opening G. On the discharging or throwing movement of these parts the arm 107 engages a rubber bumper 101 limiting its upward movement while cushioning the blow.

The tripping of the lever 107 by moving the strut 17 o from the roller 120, may be caused by a jointed arm 122 keyed to the shaft 100 and illustrated in detail in Fig, 8. As shown this jointed arm has one member 123 rigid with the shaft 100 and pivoted at 124 to an extension member 125 which carries a roller 126 at its free end, and at the other end has an odset shoulderl127 adapted toengage a stud 128 on the arm 1.23, limiting its movement in one direction while permitting it to break or flex in the other dlrection. A lip 127a on the arm 125 forms an additional stop for the arm 123.

By an upward movement of the jointed arm 122, t'he roller 126 may engage a cam 129 on the latch -117 to swing the latch rearwardly olf from theroller 120, permitting thel lever 107 to swing upwardly and actuate the shovels, as described. On the downward movement of the arm 122 the latch 117 is swung forwardly by a weight 121 rigid with the arm; thus the roller 120 engaging this cam on its downward movement is arrested, while the member 123 continues flexing the arm as indicated in Fig. 8 allowing the roller to pass the cam. Thus the cam- 115 may depress the lever 107 and the latch may engage the roller 120 to set these parts in'a position shown in Fig. 6 and a subsequent downward movement of tripping lever 122 is prevented by its flexing movement from prematurely tripping the mechanism operating the throwing blades.

The lower cap for the spring 112 is shown I as pivoted at 130 and rigidly attached to a lever 131, extending upwardly into the cap and having the usual dog 132 operated by a lgrip handle rod 133 and adapted to engage a rack 134 secured to the cab floor, whereby the lever may be held in various positions, allowing the raising or lowering of the cap 13 to adjust the compression of the spring 112, with a result that distribution of the coal/may be regulated somewhat by varying the force applied to the throwing blade.

The openings G into the fire box flare laterally and downwardly. The Aforward porf tion of the plunger boxes, fitting over the openings G, preferably stop short of the top of these openings while the upper portions of the openings are closed by a flange 140 having laterally extending trunnions 141 engaging notches, in the side walls of chutes, above the securing angle brackets 3. 1ntegral with the flanges 140 are inwardly projecting flanges 142 which carry downwardly extending tongues 143 and 144. These tongues are preferably arranged at a slight angle to the direction of the coal thrown from the blades 45 so that as coal passes through these openings it is deflected somewhatI and thus even distribution is accomplished. The tongues are separated sufciently to permit some of the coal to be thrown unimpeded to the forward part of the fire box, while the smaller tongues 144 are arranged so that coal impinging thereon, may drop abruptly to the rear end of the lire.

Actual experience has proven that by the described arrangement of daring openings, throwing shovels and distributing members the coal may be spread according to the best principles of eflicient firing, as well as to accommodate the needs of the particular lo comotive.

'A summa-ry of the operation of my device is as follows: Starting with the plungers in the position shown in Fig. 1, the plungers on the tender aremoved to their forward position, causing coal to be thrust forwardly and dropped into the hoppers 5. The subsequent movement of the connecting rod 89,

rocks the shaft 55 moving the arms 72 and 76, swinging them forwardly, which advances the plungers on the locomotive and recedes the plungers on the tender, the latter plungers taking a new charge of coal. Assuming that the arm 107 has Abeen depressed and latched on a previous .movement of the shaft 55 and cam 115, the finish of the downward movement ofthe lever 90 causeslthe plungers to bring the charge of coal onto the throwing blades and the following upward movement of this lever acts through the cam 92, lever 95, hinge 97 and arm 98 to raise the'ila-nge stop 49. At the :ascenso finish of this raising movement ther lever ln case any coal lodges between the flange dll-and a cover 50, this cover may swing upwardly .without ,injuring the parts. Ylhe opening between this cover and the rear or the opening in the deck, through which the upper portion of the chute projects, may be closed by a hinged cover 146, hinged at 147 to the chute and resting at its forward edge on the c Over 50, as shown particularly in Fig. 5.

From the .foregoing description it will be seen thatv l have provided an automobile Stoker, comprising a novel plunger arrangement for feeding coal from the tender of the locomotive, not liable 'to clog or get out of.

order and capable of movement by use of but little power; and thatv l have provided a means for throwing and distributing the coal into the tire box in the desired position, actuated by a simple and ed'ective mecha nism. My feeding mechanism may operate eliicientlywith various 'grades or kinds of coal; thus, l have found that with the embodiment shown in the drawings l can satisfactorily feed coal varying in size from slack toa diameter of four inches.

'lhe apparatus herein shown for convoying coalfrom the tender to a position where it may be thrown into the fire box forms the subject matter of my application No. 289,742, filed April 12, 1919, for conveying devices Vfor locomotive stOkerS, and reference is made to thatappli'cation for claims on such a conveyor.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim is:

1. In a locomotive Stoker, a lire box having an opening, a v`blade opposite. said opening, means for oscillating the blade in an upper quadrant to throw` coal; into the hre box, a.

plunger conveyer adapted to periodically deposit coal upon said blade, means for operating the conveyer, and means for clearing the path of the swinging edge of said blade preceding thefmovement oit the blade.

2; 'lhe .combination, .with a locomotive and tender, of a throwing blade on the locomotive, means for bringing 'coal in a column and depositing the forward portion thereof on said blade, an actuating shaft carrying the blade, a sb ring for turni-ng said shaft on its axis to swing the blade upwardly, a latch device for holding the blade in approximately horizontal receiving position, means for setting and releasing thelatch periodically, and positively actuated means for cutting through the column of coal adjacent the swinging edge of the blade.

t. 1n a locomotive stuiver, the comhination or a throwing blade, a conveyor forl feeding coal upon the blade, mechanism including an actuating spring for moving the blade, a movable support for engaging one end oit' the spring,- a lever for moving said support,y and means for latching said lever in various positions.

s. The combination, with a locomotive having a fire box and cab, of a throwing `shovel adjacent the lire box, a substantially horizontal shaft carrying the shovel and adapted to be oscilla-ted to bring the shovel 4 to an approximately receiving position', means for quickly moving the shaft to swin'g the shovel in an upper quadrant to discharge coal on' the shovel into the lire hoX, said means including a lever, a spring acting on the lever, means for setting the spring and' latching said lever with the shovel in an ap proximately receiving position` means operable from the cab to adjust the tension of said spring, and automatic means controlling the latch.

5. rlhe combination, with a locomotive having a cab, o' a stoler comprising a supporting and throwing shovel, an actuating shaft carrying the shovel, a spring for turning said shaft to swing the shovel upwardly, a latch for holding the shovel in receiving position, means for setting and releasing the latch periodically, and means accessible within the cab for adjusting the force of the spring. -1

6. ln a locomotive stolzer, the combination, with the fire box, ci a chute leading thereto,

a plunger in saidchute, means for bringing coal to the plunger, means for actuating the plunger, a shovel adapted to support coal moved toward the lire box by theplunger and to swing upwardly to discharge the same Jforcibly into the fire box, a gate adapted to be thrust transversely through the path of the coal between the plunger and shovel, and means for moving the gate to its active position when the shovel is absent from its receiving position. l

7. The combination with a fire box, of a receptacle adjacent thereto, a shovel within said receptacle adapted to stand normally approximately horizontal, a conveyor adapted to feed a column of coal the forward end of the column comingr onto the top'of the shovel, mechanism for cutting through said column at the rear of the shovel and inter- '120 rupting the ieed from the conveyer to the shovel, and mechanism for swinging the shovel upwardly with its load while the feed is interrupted to throw the load into the fire box.

8. ln a locomotive Stoker, the combination of a supporting shovel, means for bringing the coal from the tender and depositing it on said shovel, an actuating shaft carrying the y shovel, a spring for turning said shaft to/'iSO Swing the shovel upwardly, a latch for holding the shovel in receiving position, means :tor setting andreleasing the latch periodically, and a cushion bumper for receiving the blow when the latch is released.

9. In a locomotive stoker, the combination, with the lire box having an opening flaring laterally, of depending detlect'ors in the upper portion of such opening, mechanism for feeding the coa-l'from the tender to a point adjacent said opening, a shovel 'adapted to support coal deposited thereon by such mechanism, and means for periodically giv ing the shovel a quick movement in an upper quadrant for ithrowing the coal into the tire box.

l0. In a locomotive stoker, thecombina-l tion, with a re box, of mechanism or'pushing coal in a column to a. point adjacent the fire box, a shovel upon 'which the coal is pushed, and means movable transversely of the column of coal Jfor intercepting the column between the shovel and the pushing mechanism allowing free movement of the shovel.

11. In a locomotive stoker, the combination of a fire box, mechanism for pushing a column of coal to a point adjacent the tire box, a shovel upon which the coal is so pushed, means independentot the shovel for cutting the column closely adjacent the path ot' the shovel, and means for moving the shovel to forcibly throw the coal into the tire'box. j

1Q. In a locomotive Stoker, the combination with a fire box, ot' mechanism including a plunger for moving coal toward the lire box, la supporting shovel adjacent the lire box, upon which the coal is fed by the plunger, a gate, means for projecting the gate across the path of the coal in Jiront of the plunger during its movement away fromthe lire box, and means for moving the shovel to throw the coal into the lire box While such gate is in act-ive position..

13. In a locomotive stoker, the combination with a tire box and a tender ot means for feeding a column of coal from the tender to a point adjacent the lire box, a swinging supporting shovel adapted to receive coal deposited thereon by such mechanism` and adapted to be movedto throw the coal into the lire box, and a blade independent of the shovel and positioned adjacent to the` free edge of the shovel and adapted to sever said column, and mechanism for positively actu- -ating such blade ahead of the movement of the shovel.

la. In a locomotive stoker, the combination of a conveyer adapted to shove a mass of coal to a point adjacent the lire box and discharge it approximately horizontally, a throwing blade adapted to stand in a substantially horizontal position to receive coal at the forward end of the shoved mass, and a gate adapted to sever such shoved mass closely adjacent to the shovel by moving up'- wardly across the shoved mass.

15. In a locomotive stoker, the combination ot a conveyer tor progressing a confined mass of coal to a point adjacent the lire box, said conveyer including a substantially closed chuteenlarged vertically at its torward-end, an oscillating shovel mounted to lie substantially parallel with the chute and below the `forward end of the mass of coal, whereby coal is fed upon said shovel, means for moving said shovel through the path of the coal in an upper quadrant to forciblyY` discharge the coal thereon into the lire box, the vertical enlargement of the chute allowing such movement of the shovel and allowing the coal to be uncontlned on its upper side immediately adjacent the pat-h ot the swinging edge ot the shovel.

1G. In a locomotive stoker, the combination of a conveyer for shoving coal to a point adjacent the tire box, the conveyer including a chute enlarged vertically adjacent to the lire box, a throwing shovel mounted to stand in said enlargement in a position to receive coal at the end of the shoved mass and adapted to swing in anupper quadrant to throw the coal into the fire box, a gate adapted to intercept the' coal at the rear edge ot the shovel whenin its receiving position, and a pivoted arcuate cover mounted 'at the enlargement and adapted to extend into the chute standing substantially parallel with the swinging edge of the' shovel and normally substantially meeting said gate when in its active position.

In testimony whereof, I"'hereunto attix my signature. 1

HAMILTON LINDSAY. 

